Video 7:25
Several states face down bushfires

As Australia saw record heat and powerful winds create dangerous bushfire conditions, firefighters battled blazes in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

Transcript

BEN KNIGHT, REPORTER: Welcome to 7:30, I'm Ben Knight.

Tonight closing in sweltering temperatures, strong winds and catastrophic conditions in NSW where fire fighters are now battling to avert disaster.

Containment of this fire is not going to happen very soon.

Dozens of bushfires are raging out of control across southern NSW threatening lives and properties.

Well the warnings couldn't have been more serious that NSW was today facing its most serious fire danger in decades. And so it was.

As we go to air tonight more than 130 fires are still burning across that state in extremely difficult conditions.

Fires are approaching built up areas in south east of NSW and as darkness falls it will still be hours before there's any relief from the heat and the strong winds.

But so far it's been a remarkable escape, no loss of life, very few homes burnt despite at least one report of fires being deliberately lit. It's not over yet.

And what's more worrying is that even when the cool change arrives in the early hours of tomorrow morning, it's not expected to last and the heatwave that's hit the whole of south eastern Australia could go on perhaps for weeks to come.

More on that later but we begin our coverage tonight with this report from Conor Duffy.

CONOR DUFFY: In NSW more than 130 fires are burning.

The flames, smoke and warnings leaving much of the state on edge.

This fire in Nowra continues to threaten homes and fire fighters and locals are preparing for an anxious night.

This was a day the state was told to fear and elsewhere more than 20 fires are burning out of control. The combination of 40 degree plus temperatures and winds stronger than 50 kilometres an hour in some places made it a dangerous day.

Large areas to the south of Sydney were warned to brace for catastrophic conditions and conditions were forecast to reach the same dire levels in the Riverina and central western plains.

In Cooma, about two hours south of Canberra, some residents abandoned their homes. Others stayed to defend their livelihoods.

FRED NICHOLLS, NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE: Really with the weather conditions we've got now, nothing's going to change until the weather starts helping us. We're expecting a change around to the south at midnight tonight but that may not help the fire. Containment of this fire is not going to happen very soon.

DEAN LYNCH, COOMA-MONARO MAYOR: Once it broke containment lines it gets out of control. Particularly two or three farm houses and large rural landholdings which are under extreme threat as we speak.

CONOR DUFFY: With smoke still heavy on the horizon, the mayor says the threat will remain for some time.

DEAN LYNCH: The problem we do have now with a change in the wind probably 90 degree change really from a westerly to a southerly wind, potentially that five k front could, the side of the fire could now become the front.

CONOR DUFFY: More senior politicians also appealed to people to take warnings seriously.

JULIA GILLARD, PRIME MINISTER: We, of course, are very concerned about these extreme weather conditions in NSW. The word catastrophic is being used for good reason. So it is very important that people keep themselves safe, that they listen to local authorities and local warnings. This is a very dangerous day.

Now I'd like to end this day with nothing having happened and everybody saying gee, what was all that about. That would be the best thing that could happen. It's a dangerous day and people do have to stay focused.

TONY ABBOTT, OPPOSITION LEADER: This is a difficult day, this will almost certainly be another dangerous summer. But the great thing about Australians is that we rally together in tough times.

CONOR DUFFY: In Tasmania where it was hoped the worst was over, a major blaze in the State's south east roared back to life and weary people again endured emergency status. Strong winds pushed the fire east and residents in some areas were ordered to flee for the coast.

Later in the day the warning was downgraded. And new pictures emerged of the destruction the same fire caused in the coastal town of Boomer Bay.

MERL KLUG: Boats came in and they were going to take us to Dunalley but Dunalley was on fire as well so we had to stay where we were. There was nothing else we could do.

TERRY KLUG: We had to leave our house.

CONOR DUFFY: The number of houses lost on the peninsula has reached 100 and with conditions still dangerous it could rise further.

In the twisted wreckage of this house fishing gear somehow survives while a charred bike is blackened and ruined.

Just south on the road to the worst hit town of Dunalley, the signs of the ferocious blaze are clear. In town it's even worse with the foundations the only parts remaining of some homes.

Others were luckier.

How close did you come to losing it all?

BEN CAMERON, OYSTER FARMER: Mate, we were a matter of metres and a matter of minutes. The building right next door to our admin facility has just been devastated.

CONOR DUFFY: Forensic crews worked through house by house, pulling apart the wreckage on a disturbing hunt.

Another two blazes in the north west and centre of the State also kept people there on alert.

Fierce fire west of Ballarat destroyed at least two homes. Elsewhere an emergency warning was issued for a fire near Bendigo and a warning for a fire near Portland was downgraded. Still authorities are wary.

CRAIG LAPSLEY, VIC FIRE COMMISSIONER: It's serious fire weather in northern Victoria, it's very serious fire weather in southern NSW and fires that do start will run hard, fast and be difficult to control.

CONOR DUFFY: Sixty-four Victorian fire fighters have already been sent to Tasmania and others stand ready to lend a hand in New South Wales.

We will be available to provide support north of the Murray River, obviously, and as far as Canberra in an initial attack and we believe that would be a reasonable area this afternoon for us to have Victorian resources into if required.

Even away from the fires, authorities are warning the heat and smoke carries a major health risk.

PAUL HOLMAN, AMBULANCE VICTORIA OPERATIONS MANAGER: Importantly we're still seeing children locked in cars or left in cars. So if you could again get out to the community that really is something that is going to unfortunately we're going to lose a life before this summer ends if people continue to do that. So we are urging the community take heed seriously, take these messages seriously.

CONOR DUFFY: And in the ACT there was at least some good news with fires there contained. Even so, it's far too early to relax.

UNKNOWN FIRE OFFICER: They're fully contained, we wouldn't dare call them out under these type of conditions with winds still forecast to increase this afternoon. But we're very satisfied with the condition of those fires.